HB0123 - Motor vehicle chain law.

2001

State of Wyoming

01LSO-0236.E1

ENGROSSED

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0123

Motor vehicle chain law.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Rose and Johnson, W.

A BILL

for

1 AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; amending requirements
2 for use of tire chains on motor vehicles as specified;
3 providing penalties; providing a definition; and providing
4 for an effective date.

6 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

8 Section 1. W.S. 31-5-956(e) and by creating new
9 subsections (j) and (k) is amended to read:

11 31-5-956. Tires; restriction of travel under
12 hazardous conditions; penalties.

14 (e) ~~Travel on a highway may be restricted to all~~
15 ~~wheel drive vehicles or motor vehicles equipped with tire~~
16 ~~chains or adequate snow tires when the superintendent or~~
17 ~~his authorized representative determines that travel is~~

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1 ~~sufficiently hazardous due to snow, ice or other~~
2 ~~conditions.~~ When the superintendent or his authorized
3 representative determines that travel is sufficiently
4 hazardous due to snow, ice or other conditions, travel on a
5 highway may be restricted to use only by motor vehicles
6 equipped with adequate snow tires or tire chains, motor
7 vehicles that are all-wheel drive vehicles or necessary
8 emergency vehicles as defined in W.S. 31-5-1302(a)(iii),
9 including snow plows. Additionally, the superintendent or
10 his authorized representative may further restrict travel
11 in extremely hazardous conditions to use only by necessary
12 emergency vehicles as defined in W.S. 31-5-1302(a)(iii),
13 including snow plows, and those vehicles equipped with tire
14 chains or to all-wheel drive vehicles equipped with
15 adequate snow tires with a mud and snow or all-weather
16 rating from the manufacturer having a tread of sufficient
17 abrasive or skid-resistant design or composition and depth
18 to provide adequate traction under existing driving
19 conditions during storms or when other dangerous driving
20 conditions exist. The prohibition or restriction of use
21 shall be effective when signs, including temporary or
22 electronic signs, giving notice thereof are erected upon
23 that portion of the highway, and it shall be unlawful to
24 proceed in violation of the notice. The operator of a

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1 commercial vehicle with four (4) or more drive wheels with
2 spacing of five (5) feet or less between axles shall affix
3 tire chains to at least two (2) of the drive wheels of the
4 vehicle at opposite ends of the same drive axle when the
5 vehicle is required to be equipped with tire chains under
6 this subsection. The state highway patrol shall cooperate
7 with the department in the enforcement of any closing or
8 restriction of use under this subsection.

10 (j) Any person who operates a motor vehicle in
11 violation of restrictions imposed by the department or the
12 highway patrol under subsection (e) of this section is
13 guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be
14 subject to a penalty of not more than two hundred fifty
15 dollars ($250.00). Any person who operates a motor vehicle
16 in violation of restrictions imposed by the department or
17 the highway patrol under subsection (e) of this section,
18 where the result of the violation is an incident that
19 causes the closure of all lanes in one (1) or both
20 directions of the highway, is guilty of a misdemeanor and
21 upon conviction shall be subject to a penalty of not more
22 than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00).

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1 (k) As used in this section, "tire chains" means
2 metal chains which consist of two (2) circular metal loops,
3 one (1) on each side of the tire, connected by not less
4 than nine (9) evenly spaced chains across the tire tread
5 and any other traction devices differing from metal chains
6 in construction, material or design but capable of
7 providing traction equal to or exceeding that of metal
8 chains under similar conditions.

10 Section 2. This act is effective July 1, 2001.

12 (END)

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